by Vera Valsdiskovic

Created on: June 23, 2009

Teaching your child how to take care of him/herself is central to making that child independent. Sometimes, it is difficult to when trying to make children to become independent, but with the right strategies you can be successful. Detailed below are fives in which you can encourage your child's independence.

1. Give Him/Her A Break: Sometimes, we parents tend to be overprotective of our children. We pamper them do the extent that we don't allow them do to anything for themselves thinking that they are not grown yet. It will be better if you allow your child to do some basic things such as tying a shoe lace and bathing if he/she is grown enough to do it. In case of the bathing, make sure your child doesn't use a bathtub if he/she is not old enough. A shower will be more appropriate.

2. Give Your Child Responsibilities: Assigning some responsibilities to your child is also a great way to encourage their independence. It can make them proud and motivate them to do as much as they can to show you that they are off age, which is how most children like behaving. They like playing adult and yearns to be grown ups one day. You can give them assignments like weeding the garden, mowing the lawn and other easy chores around the house. Don't forget to reward them when they finish discharging their duties. A kiss or a nice present will do well.

3. Encourage Your Child to Read: Helping your child to inculcate a good reading habit is also vital in encouraging his/her independence. If your child learns to read and is very enthusiastic about reading, chances are that he/she will be reading self help books too, by the age of 9 or 10. And from these books he can easily learn how to do certain things like gardening and mowing the lawn. You can also help your child to inculcate a good reading habit by introducing him/her to books at an early age. Thus, it is also necessary you make available the requisite self help books in your house.

4. Go in for a Liberal Babysitter: Sometimes, having a strict babysitter to look after your children when you're not available can spoil a child's development of self confidence and independence. Thus, it is necessary for you to go in for a babysitter who is liberal enough to allow your children the freedom to do things for themselves, provided they don't put their safety at risk.

To conclude, I will like to advice you to invest all you can in encouraging your child's independence. It will go a long way to help him/her during adulthood.

Learn more about this author, Vera Valsdiskovic.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.